Detachable pail or like support for ladders



Aug. 18, 1936. ZQSLQGQ M. E. .U SOMAN, NOW BY DECREE OF COURT M. E.UPTHEGROVE DETACHABLE PAIL OR LIKE SUPPORT FOR LADDERS Filed Sept. 19,1933 2 Sheets-Shet 1 I I I v flaw-anion Z6 m "'3 A I '1 Aug. 18, 1936. I2,051,06Q M. E. u. SOMAN, NOW BY DEGREE OF COURT M. E. UPTHEGROVEDETACHABLE PAIL OR LIKE SUPPORT FOR LADDERS Filed Sept. 19, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 2 uuulgu a Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES DETACHABLEPAIL R LIKE SUPPORT FOR LADDERS Mary Elizabeth U. Soman, Port Colborne,0n-

tario, Canada, now by Decree of Court Mary Elizabeth UpthegroveApplication September 19, 1933, Serial No. 690,075

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to an attachment for ladders, but moreparticularly to an attachment for step-ladders for use by painters,decorators, and others in supporting pails or buckets or other equipmentwhile at work in their respective trades.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide an attachment ofthis character which is designed to be detachably and reversablysupported from one or another of the ladder rungs and to be disposed atone side or the other of the ladder so as to not interfere with theusers walking up and down the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pail-supportingattachment for step ladders having simple and inexpensive means fordetachably connecting it to and effectually bracing it from one of theladder rungs, which is a unitary, self-contained structure, and which isstrong and durable and not liable to become displaced from the rung.

In the accompanying drawings:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a step-ladder showing anembodiment of one form of my improved attachment applied thereto. Figure2 is a top plan view of the same showing it in position on thestep-ladder. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane ofline 3-3, Figure 2. Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form ofmy invention in position on a step ladder. Figure 5 is a top plan viewof the same. Figure 6 is a perspective view thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. My improved attachment, which serves as a support forpails and other equipment used by painters and decorators, has beendesigned more particularly for use with step-ladders. Referring now tothe drawings, l0 indicates a portion of the step-ladder and II the rungsthereof which are in the form of wooden strips or boards of rectangularcross-section.

The improved attachment is adapted to be detachably mounted on one oranother of the rungs 45 H of the ladder and in the embodiment thereofshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, consists of a suitable table or platform l2of metal or other appropriate material having a marginal flange or rimI2 projecting from its top and bottom faces to provide a guard forpreventing the pail, bucket or the like from sliding oii the table. Atone end, this table has a horizontally-extending bracket or brace memberl3 which is adapted to rest fiatwise upon a ladder rung and whichbracket is preferably bifurcated, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, to providelaterally spaced arms M, M which terminate at their free ends in upperand lower notched gripping jaws or hook-like elements 15 adapted todetachably engage or interlock with the rear edge of the ladder-rung, inthe manner 5 shown in Figure 3, whereby the bracket-arms rest upon therung and the jaws bear against the underside of the rung adjacent itsrear edge. The notches I6 formed by the hook-like elements l5 faceforwardly and are of a width to I freeely straddle the ladder rung. Asshown in Figure 2, the outer hook-bearing brace arm 14 engages theladder rung adjoining the upright or stile of the ladder while thecompanion divergent arm overlies the ladder rung at an acute l5 angle tothe upright, whereby the table 12 is firmly and effectually supportedagainst tilting and in a substantially horizontal position from theladder rung. The arms M are displaced somewhat at an angle to the innerend of the brace member so that in the applied position of theattachment on the ladder, the table assumes a position at one side ofthe ladder where it is convenient for the user and yet is sufficientlyremoved from the ladder so as not to interfere with walking up and downthe ladder. 25

By the provision of the upper and lower hooklike elements or jaws IS onthe supporting brackets l3, this attachment may be readily ap plied tobring its table at either side of the ladder to suit the convenience ofthe user, it being 30 understood that in placing the same at the lefthand side of the ladder instead of at the right hand side thereof, asshown in Figure 1, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the rtable, that is, turning it upside down and bringing the correspondingpair of hooks into engagement with the ladder-rung at the left hand sideof the ladder.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, thetable or platform I] is ad- 40 justably mounted on a bracket orladder-engaging arm l8 which rests flatwise on the ladder-rung I l andterminates at its rear end in a hook-like element i9 adapted todetachably engage or interlock with the rear edge of the rung. The tableis connected at its inner end to the outer end of the bracket l8 toswing in a horizontal plane relative thereto or to be adjustablelengthwise of said bracket and for this purpose a pivot bolt 20 andthumb nut 2| are provided, said bolt passing through an opening in thetable and through a longitudinal slot 22 in the bracket. By thisconstruction the table can be readily adjusted to any radial positiondesired and the attaching bracket I8 is applicable to rungs of differentwidths. In order to efiectually support the outer end of the table, Iprovide a foldable brace 23 which is pivoted at its upper end to aswivel fitting 24 connected to the table and which is pointed at itslower end for engagement with the upright in of the ladder.

I claim as'my invention:-

1. A ladder attachment of the character described, comprising a platformand a bracket substantially A-shape in plan projecting from one endthereof for resting flatwise on the top side of a flat-type ladder-rungand terminating at its free end in forwardly-facing hooks for engagementwith the underside of such rung, the platform being disposed obliquelyto the bracket to assume a position at one side of the ladder.

2. A ladder attachment of the character described, comprising a bracketconsisting of laterally-spaced horizontal arms of substantially T- shapehaving the cross-bars thereof disposed substantially upright andterminating at their ends in hook-like elements, said arms beingarranged to rest flatwise on the top side of a ladder rung with thecompanion hook-like elements engaging the rear edge and undersidethereof. and a platform adapted to project from the ladder and connectedto the front ends of said arms.

3. A ladder attachment of the character described, comprising a platformhaving a. rungengaging bracket projecting from one end thereof andconsisting of substantially horizontal arms disposed in approximatelyA-form in plan for resting flatwise on the top side of a ladder-rung,each arm terminating at its rear end in a verticallydisposed hook-likeelement to engage the rear edge and underside of such ladder-rung.

MARY ELIZABETH U. SOMAN.

